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- Getting the most out of your Fourteeners experience
– June 17, 2013
Over the last week I had the pleasure of spending five days working on Mt. Bierstadt. Throughout the week I got to talk to a … Read More
- Reel-izing
– June 9, 2013
As I lie in a top bunk in the yurt and lose myself through the stars, I can think of nothing. My mind has … Read More
- One-zy Wednesday
– June 6, 2013
It is not every day that you see a full-grown adult in a one-piece pajama suit with built-in booties … Read More
- Seasonal Trail Positions Closed
– March 7, 2013
CFI is no longer accepting applications for 2013 seasonal positions. If still interested in becoming a member of our 2014 seasonal trail crew, please check … Read More
Mount Belford
- Elevation:14,197 feet (19th highest)
- Maps:Trails Illustrated® TOPO # 129
(Buena Vista/Collegiate Peaks)
To purchase Trails Illustrated® maps for this route, please click here. - Contact:US Forest Service, Leadville Ranger District (719) 486-0749
Recommended Route
Northwest Ridge – Use of this route will help to reduce impacts to this Fourteener’s fragile alpine environment. For more detailed information about this route including pictures, maps, and elevation profiles, click here.
Route Information and Additional Resources
From Leadville, drive 20 miles south on US-24 and turn right on Chaffee County Road 390. Continue 7.5 miles to reach a sign for the Missouri Gulch Trailhead. Turn left and drive to the parking area.
Start down the Missouri Gulch Trailhead from the parking area. At 10,400, leave the switchbacks and continue up Missouri Gulch. At 11,600, the trail splits. To the right is the Elkhead Pass trail, and the Mt. Belford trail continues to the left. Follow the Mt. Belford trail to the summit.
The above information does not replace the need to consult additional maps and Colorado Fourteener Guidebooks for more detailed route descriptions. We suggest checking multiple resources before departing on any hike. Keep in mind that not all guidebooks list this recommended route and that each guidebook’s description or route name may vary slightly.
Peak Specific Environmental and Safety Concerns
The trail enters the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area. Party size must be limited to 15 and dogs must be kept on leash and away from streams or lakes. The only approved route up Mt. Oxford is over Mt. Belford.